The Next StuxNet?

The Russian security firm Kaspersky Labs has released a report on a new, sophisticated malware variety called FLAME. It has been found on various targets in Iran, Israel, Sudan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The purpose appears to be mass harvesting of sensitive data.

Kaspersky claims that the malware is clearly the product of a nation-state, due to its sophistication and purpose, but others disagree. The Kaspersky folks think there are only three groups of people who write malware: criminals, hacktivists, and nation states. They drop the first two from consideration for FLAME because it has such a high level of sophistication and because the purpose of FLAME does not match the profiles of criminals or hacktivists.

That leaves nation-states. But among policy, intelligence, and technology experts, the jury is still out.

That said, the report is still significant. A program this sophisticated warrants notice by all the “good guys,” and, be assured, it has gotten experts’ attention. Debates over the targets (“Why were those countries targeted?”), the purpose (“Is it really a data vacuum cleaner?”), and the origins (“Could terrorists or hired cyber guns have done this?”) have already begun and will continue.

StuxNet and DuQu got everyone’s attention, but now FLAME should show the naysayers that strategic cyber “weapons” are really a part of the modern landscape. They are not a passing aberration but the reality of our digital world.

No, the sky is still not falling, but action is needed. Those who would hold up positive cyber legislation because they do not trust their own governments—even with appropriate oversight—are truly keeping their heads in the sand. Privacy laws already exist that can be applied to government use of digital means. What we lack are adequate provisions allowing those tasked with defending the nation from cyber attacks to properly do their jobs.

This is not a “privacy versus security” debate. Without security, you have no privacy. There are enemies (nation-state and non-nation-state) who are already plundering the intellectual property that fuels American prosperity. The threat is growing, so our response capability should grow as well.

Regardless of how this newest cyber riddle is answered, it is yet another warning to our highly digital society. Will it be heeded? Will the cure be worse than the disease? Responsible action is needed.

David Inserra specializes in cyber and homeland security policy, including protection of critical infrastructure, as research assistant in The Heritage Foundation’s Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies. Read his research.

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In the next World War it will be like fighting against a phantom where the invisible enemy is also one marked feature of every human being,
Ego,
personified in our days like never before in history by few people dictating their will from the top of one virtual Pyramid.

The War manipulated by the Zionists will be geographically split on two fronts:
Russia, China and Arab States on one side
Israel, USA and England on the other.
Russia will be the last target while the confrontation with China will follow the War in the Middle East.

The Zionists Freemasons have already planned this War behind the back of all people which will be forced to fight for their own Countries in their obligation as citizens.

Through one strategy of Terror and Deception the Zionists will continue to monitor and separate all people to face many weak and divided oppositions rather than one strong and united.

They will need chaos and despair to impose their New World Order.

No weapons or protests could counter their Plan relying on such Force and Deception.

In this “carousel” orchestrated by the CIA on behalf of the Zionists, the greatest danger to Humankind is not the CIA or the Zionists but the lack of one evolutionary change needed for us to step away from that same Direction marked in all history and to become one race distinguished from the Animal kingdom.

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